🌓Found €3.5B in gold—then the government took it all
In central France, farmer Michel Dupont made a once-in-a-lifetime discovery: over 150 tons of gold nuggets buried beneath his land, valued at €3.5 billion. But his fortune was short-lived. According to French law, all mineral resources belong to the state, even if found on private property. Within hours, local authorities sealed the site, declared the gold state property, and left Dupont with nothing.
This real-world parable is not about gold, but about control. In traditional systems, wealth is authorized. What you own can be redefined overnight by legislation, bureaucracy, or force. Your land is not really yours. Your bank account? Accessible. Your assets? Seizable.
Crypto changes that narrative. When you own your keys, you own your future. $BTC is not in your backyard; it's in a ledger that no government can confiscate. $ETH is not bound by borders. While governments debate resources, the code operates autonomously, preserving value without central approval.
In a world where discovering billions can still leave you with zero, it’s no wonder that self-custody and digital sovereignty are gaining momentum. Gold is heavy. Banks can freeze. But Satoshi's lesson remains valid: not your keys, not your coins.
If owning land and gold means nothing under the state’s rules, what does “ownership” mean in 2025?
